The Big Novosibirsk Planetarium is one of the most interesting and visited places in Novosibirsk, which attracts tourists and local residents. It hosts starry sky shows, exciting popular science films, and slide shows. In addition to the main building, there is a theme park dedicated to space on the territory.
Architecture and location
The planetarium rises on the Klyuch-Kamyshenskoye plateau, which is considered one of the highest points in Novosibirsk. The building itself resembles a huge spaceship that has “landed” on the slope, and its two observatory towers emphasize the futuristic architecture. The official opening took place on February 8, 2012, on Russian Science Day, with the participation of cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov, Anatoly Ivanishin, and Oleg Kononenko. The ISS crew established contact with the Novosibirsk residents that day directly from the Soyuz spacecraft.
The huge dome of the star hall
The planetarium’s main pride is its impressive dome, 16 meters in diameter, the largest beyond the Urals. Only in Russia’s capital cities can you find planetariums with larger domes. Inside the star hall, viewers watch exciting films and astronomical phenomena projected onto the dome. The special tilt of the structure makes the image as realistic as possible and close to the perception of the real sky.
Modern digital technologies
Initially, planetariums used classic “star machines” that projected maps of the starry sky. Today, the Big Novosibirsk Planetarium uses only a digital projection system capable of demonstrating over 118,000 objects. This allows for the creation of spectacular three-dimensional journeys: flights between planets, landings on the Moon or Mars, flights through the rings of Saturn and meteorite streams.
Observatories and telescopes
On the second level of the planetarium there are two observatory towers. Their panoramic windows offer a breathtaking view of Novosibirsk with both banks of the Ob. Professional telescopes are used for observations: a refractor-apochromat with an objective diameter of 200 mm and a Ritchey-Chretien telescope with a diameter of 360 mm. The design of the towers allows to avoid thermal distortions of the image, as they are located outside the main building.
Planet Park on the territory
Next to the planetarium there is a park designed in the form of a model of the Solar System – from the Sun to Jupiter. The central square symbolizes the Sun, and from it there are paths to the planetary stations: Mercury, Venus, Earth, the Moon, Mars and its satellites. The main asteroid belt is also marked here. A summer pavilion has been installed on the Jupiter site, where scientific shows and children’s films are shown in warm weather.
Sundial
A large three-meter-high sundial is installed on the square representing the Sun. It shows the astronomical, true time, which differs from the local time by about 90 minutes. The clock only works in sunny weather: its gnomon casts a shadow on a special scale, indicating the exact time of day.
Foucault's Pendulum Tower
The Big Novosibirsk Planetarium is proud of its own Foucault Tower, a unique structure specially built to demonstrate the daily rotation of the Earth. The pendulum weighs 32 kilograms and is suspended at a height of 15 meters. And the observation deck of the tower offers mesmerizing views.
Collection of meteorites
Inside the planetarium, a collection of meteorites is exhibited, donated by collector Sergei Stepanov. Visitors can see unique samples of iron and stone meteorites, as well as tektites, the origin of which is associated with asteroid and cometary activity. The collection includes specimens found in Russia, China, Egypt, Oman and the famous fragment of the Chelyabinsk meteorite.
Academy of Cosmonautics for Schoolchildren
The “Academy of Cosmonautics” operates on the planetarium’s premises — an educational project for high school students. The program includes the study of astronomy, the history of space exploration, the physics of flights, and practical experiments. In the summer, the academy participants undergo an internship in Star City, where they meet cosmonauts and scientists.
Famous guests of the planetarium
Since its opening, the planetarium has been visited by ten cosmonauts, including Viktor Savinykh, Andrei Borisenko, Yuri Usachev, Anton Shkaplerov, Alexei Ovchinin, Sergei Revin, Salizhan Sharipov, Sergei Kud-Sverchkov, Anna Kikina and Alexander Lazutkin.
Stay at the Hotel N in Novosibirsk!
Planning a trip to Novosibirsk? Want to see the Big Novosibirsk Planetarium and other attractions? Book a room in the cozy “Hotel N”. Our hotel will offer you comfortable accommodation, excellent location and hospitable service. We are happy to make your stay in Novosibirsk unforgettable!
